'We'll help UK firms crack the Middle East'

Distributor Al Futtaim wants to help publishers cash in on the growing Middle East games market.

The firm's general manager Shaun Sullivan says an explosion of youth” and the rise of gamer events like Geekfest means there is a good sales opportunity for family and niche titles in the region.

We think this hasn't been fully explored in the Middle East,” he told MCV. We believe working with our retail partners and with the retail strength that Al Futtaim has, we can offer publishers a way to tap into that market.

The market has changed dramatically. It's not just a case of shipping a few boxes – there's a retail environment worth marketing to properly."